GPRS is a General Packet Radio Service in GSM networks. The main peculiarity about GPRS is the information (received/sent) division into small data packets and its further simultaneous transmission via several communication channels. At the same time voice channel is busy only during data transmission and not constant as it is required by other forms of network access.

Sure, you can. If your handset supports both GPRS and Bluetooth you can use it as a peripheral modem with any device having Bluetooth module. For example, if the matter concerns a notebook you should get a Bluetooth PC Card and enjoy the wireless Internet.

Any device, from an old Palm to a desktop. The thing is the device itself needn't support GPRS. To work via GPRS connection you should have a standard modem. If it is a question of PDA then you should have a peripheral modem working via IrDA, because all the work with data is done by the modem, installed into your phone.

Yes, you can. To do that you should set up a new modem using a special GPRS–modem driver. Usually, the necessary software is on the disk that goes together with the phone. If there is no such disk you can find the necessary software on the Internet.

Today the GPRS–technology provides the speed which is 4 times higher than the standard GSM–network speed, which can be compared to a good modem connection. The connection speed depends on simultaneous users number, GPRS–supporting handset class, quality of connection and cell capacity. Such technical facilities of networks allow establishing the communication speed up to 50 kBits per second.

Yes, you can, except for the periods when you directly load data because at this time your telephone is busy with information receiving/transmission. This limit exists due to the modern class of handsets supporting GPRS.

There are three types of GPRS–modems — A, B, C.

Usually, the GPRS–modems belong to the C–class. These modems are not designed for talking, they are used only for data transmission. Mostly these are PC–GPRS cards for notebooks.

B–class is the handsets that can be used both as usual phones and GPRS–modems. Presently, all the phones available belong to the B–class. That is you can transfer/receive data and talk in turn.

A–class is the new generation handsets that allow transferring/receiving data and talk simultaneously.

Yes, you can. The situation is similar to the one with calls receiving. As soon as there is a pause in data receiving/transfer you get SMS. At the same time there will be no disconnection, the connection will be interrupted just for a few seconds.

The priority is voice traffic. Should a cell be overloaded by users, the equipment will automatically limit the GPRS–access. As soon as the users number in one cell decreases the equipment will be automatically re–set to provide the full range of GSM–services.